Thermostatic-modulating steam-inlet valve of radiators



PatentedMar. 3, 1931 am T TE PAT E NT 7 m nDwARnsnALsEY, or WASHINGTON; DISTRICT or COLUMBIA mnnnmosra'ricrivronurn'rrne STEAM-INLET VALVE or RAnIAzroRs" 1 Application filed May 1, 1929.. Serial No. 359,552. y

The invention relates to thermostatic mod-.

In Figure 1a side view of the invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a face view of an, insulating disc with adjacent parts in section, the view being on line 22:of Fig. 1.'

Fig. 3 is a view in section on the line 3-3 ofldigs; land 4; -Fig.-4 is a centrallongitudinal section of theappliance. I

Fig. 5 is a view of the valve and detached screw handle without thethermostatic ele- .ment which may be used in place of the thermostatic means whenever itmaybe desired to'co'nvert the arrangement shoWn'in'Fig. 4 into a simplehand 'operated'valve. V

In the drawings the valve body 1 is adapted to be coupled at its endla to the steam radiator in usual manner. Thesteam supply connectionis shown at b. 3 j 1 The supply of'steam to'the radiator is controlled by a valve made up of disc 2 having a Jenkins packing disc 3 to engagethe valve seat l for closing the inlet port 5.- This valve is automatically controlled by thermostatic means which includes a containeror cell .6

- for a material expansible byheat. It may also be controlled by-a hand operation ofthe parts to shut olfsteam from or supply the steam to theradiator, certain of the parts belonging to the thermostatic'control entering m into the manual operation. 7 i

" In carrylng out my invention I have sought to provide a valve controlling mech anism capable of automaticoperation according to room temperature, capable of v operation byhand and capable of adjustment for various temperatures, in which the elements will befew, of economical construction,-susceptible of ready and quick assembly, and preferably in which elements per- 7 form plural functions in respect to .automatic, manual and adjustmentoperations.

the features and I .are attached by screws 18a. to a heat insulat- The container 6 for the expansible medjium i or fluid iszof a form to act as a. handle for the manual operation of the valve when de sired.

' This container is made up in partbya shell 5.

6a of metal an-dabellows 7, whichis of'aneXt'ernal diameter slightly less than the internal diameter ofthe casing 6a, leaving a space8 between, which space is in communication with the end space 9. The volatile i fluid occupies these spaces. The bellows is attached liquid tight to the casing 6 at the point7a. I r a An operating rod 11 extends'from the steam inlet valve 2 throughthe hollow screwzstem a 22 and insulating disc125to a point close to the bellows and with its'axis coinciding with theaxis of the valve and bellows, and at its outer end said rod is connected at-1O to a lever Y or link12 which is pivoted at 13 and depends 1 from said-pivot. g 1

The lower end of this lever is forked at .1 1 and receives a pin 15 extending betweenthe two levers or links 16 which are pivotedat 16a.

The upper ends of the levers 16 have 'connected therewith a thrust connection or'link 16b, theouter end of which rests in a pocket17 on the inner side of the bellows head. The shell 6 has feet portions or extensions 18 which 80 ing disc orshell with anair space at a be tween 'it; and the edge "of the thermostat shell '6.

The insulating disc 25 may be of bakelite, It is attached by screws 26 to a flange 24 of "the sleeve or stem 22, which has an'external 'co arse screw thread at 23 fitted to a corresponding screw thread on the interior of a bonnet 20, the flange 20a of. which is screw threaded-onto the valve body 1, and clamps between itself and the valve body, the flange 19 of a'bellows 19a to which thesteam inlet valve 2 is connected fluid tight.

The sleeve 22, guides the center rod 11, it bearing at its end in. said sleeve for only a limited distance at 27. Forthe major por-- tion of its length the center rod 11 has an air space around it as shown at 28. i

There may be a screw 29 carried in the end ofthe rod lljbearing centrally onthe valve disc '2 which maybe formed with a depression 24 to receive the end of this screw. This screw adjusts the connection between the valve 2 and the bellows organization within casing 6 for length.

The sleeve 22 in the position of the parts shown inFig. i has its inner end reaching to a point just in rear of the steam inletvalve 2 and serves as a stop to determine theextent of the open position of the valve or to close it entirely by hand. In thisclosing thevalve by hand the shell 6 of the thermostatic element may be used asa handle to turn the sleeve 22. The bakelite disc 25 may also serve either alone or in connection with said shell-6' as the handle for turning the sleeve for adjusting it in relation to the inlet port or to, act as a' stop'for the valve and to alter the degree of opening of the valve. 7

The bakelite disc has as'eriesof openings 30 arranged in a circular row, anyone of which may be brought into registry' with. a spring pin 32, theend of which is of asi'zeto enter the opening. The pin 32 is backed by a spring 33 in thesocketed member 34 in which thespring pin is slidably'mounted By means of the handle portion 35 the spring pin can be retracted out of engage ment with the bakelite disc which: then can be turned" to adjust the sleeve for the desired temperature, and thenthe springpin by e'n' gaging theopening 30 which has'beenbrought into registry therewith will hold the parts in their adjusted position, itbeing noted thatby turning the thermostatic unit together with the sleeve the steam inletvalve may beadj-usted relative to its seat.

In this way the device can be set-for differenttemperatures. V

The space for containing the volatile fluid maybe filled through a nipple 36', the port through which is closed by a'screw 37. This nipple is within the bellows where it is protec'te'd and the lever power multiplying mecha*nismis within the casing of the thermostatic element, where'it is concealed from view and protected. The pivots 13 and 16 of this lever mechanism are mounted in bearings '38 extending from the b'akelite disc 25. r

Fig. 5' illustrates a valve stemand handle,-the latter being of any ordinary form. This stem has screw threaded portion 23a like the screw thread 23 of Fig. i so that this handle and stem can be substitiited for the sleeve 22 and the thermostatic elements of Fig; 4 and the valve thus can be converted into" one controlled solelyby handinstead or" by athermostat. i

As above pointed out the thermostatic organization has the'capacity for hand operation else, but there are advantages making the valve casing capable of use either" with the thermostatic mechanismor with a hand operated valve stem such as shown in Fig. 5.

When used in the latter way, the valve stem The object in using thisrod of the form shown surrounded by an air gap for practically its entire length, excepting the small bearing contact at its left handend, is to get a small definite and dependable transfer of heat from theinlet valve to the thermostat, so thatregul'ating'devices can be employed with the knowledge that by making certain ad-justments certain results will be obtained.- other words, with rod having more Qr-l'ess bearing contact with the surrounding sleeve, the conduction of, heat would be more or less fickle and not oi-that degree of definiteness which wilf enable the operator tocalculate on obtaining a certain result from a prescribed adjustment. I

The stem-or rod receives its maj or heat-by radiation and convection rather than by contact. I

It will be observed that thebakelite disc 25 has? three screws 26' connecting it with" the flange 24 and three other screws 18a connect? ing it with the feet 18 of the shell or casing. 6a

of the thermostatic element, and that these 7 pending connections are concerned. The

disc oi-bakelite forms ashield to prevent heat radiated from the. valvebod-y from reaching the thermostatic unit aswell as to definitely limit theheat being carriedfrom the valve body by conduction to the' t-hcrmostatic unit.

There is provided avane or vanes 186 which areadj'u'stably mountedin' relation to tl'iefian'ge' 24 on the sleeve 22 so'as to regulate the transmission of heat from the valve body to'tl'ie'thermostatic cell. These vanes are pivotally mounted on the insulating disc 25 by the screws 18a and they are separated from the hot flange 24' of the valve stem by a narrow air gap. They preferably receive heat from the valve body by radiation and convection instead of by Contact, this effect be'in due to the narrow air gap, and transmit the heat through the screws 18a to the feet 18 and the thermostat. By using this air gap the transference of heat is rendered more definite than if the transfer were made-by contact of the vanes withthe flange of the valve 5 heat transferred through the vane ma be ture.

' fiuenced by the passage of air into or through the said air gap. T he heat insulating disc changed by swinging the vane onits screw as a pivot to cause a greater or lesser area of the vane to underlie the flange 24' on the valve body. l p This principle of rel'idering theconduction of heat less fickle is present as before stated in connection with the slender center rod 11- which is'surrounded by' an air gap. The amount of heat radi'ated'from the thermostatic cellmay be regulated by a ring 39 01: bakelite or othersuitable material whichis adjustably mounted by a screw and inclined slot connection to the tester brackets 18 on the thermostatic'casing, so that the ring may be adjusted to cover more or'le'ss of the edge portion of the casing 6a of the thermostat so that more or less of this will be exposed for I radiationof heat therefrom. The ringmayz be adjusted entirely off from the'edge portion of thecasing'so as to leave open the air gapjz, so that the air may circulate upwardly etween the insulating disc 25 and the thermo-- stat casing'to dissipate the heat therefrom and also from the motion transmitting mem-' bers to keep the same at the desired tempera Radiation of heat trom the valve'body is prevented from reaching the thermostat not only by the shield 25, but also by the air gaps m andy. i

I It will be noticedthat by turning the thermostatic unit,"as a handle about its axis, the

wholevalve mechanism can be adjusted to or irom its seat, and when the proper ad ustment has been arrived at, the spring pm 32 will hold the parts in their adjusted position.

This spring pin extends with; its axis parallel with the axiso-f the valve mechanism.

: It will be noticed that the shell 6aoi the thermostat is'open at one end,-i. e., atthe end I winch hold the thermostat 1n spacedapart relation to where it has spaced apart 'feet 18,

the heat insulating disc 25, to provide the air gap 2, andthat th'ebellows 7 has" its open side racing the same ay as the open end of the shell. 1 1 l This construction provides a cavity for-1e ceiving the lever mechanism, and enables access to be had to the filling tube or nipple 36. This constructionpresents a largearea of the thermostatic cell for exposure .to the air, and renders the thermostat sensitive to temperature changes. The cavity l3 within the'bellowsi's in communicationwith the air gap 2,and the air within this cavity is inwith the heat insulating ringv 39 virtually serves asa closure for .theopen end ofthe shell of the thermostat and of the bellows when the ring is adjusted to overlap the edge the cavity B, in addition to the air flowing over the outer surface ofthe shell 6a.

7 The spring pin which holds the rotary parts in position to which they may have been adjusted may be locked by any suitable means'against casual operation. A wrench operated set screw may bensed for this purpose as shown at 3200.

jpheric pressure. The transfer of heat to the cell by theslender'rod 11, or by any other I suitable means, elevates the temperature of the cell.v Thereis no available volatile liquid of constant boiling pointand of sufficient stability of character between ethyl chloride with a boilii'ig point of about 5 2% F; and sulphuric ether boiling at about F. Consequently I have devisedthearrangement of parts described above whereby l insulate the cell from the heat radiated from the-valve and its casing'and' I transferasubstantlally definite amount of heat from the valve to the cell by way of the slender rod 11 to raise the working temperatureto the neighborhood of Ijclaimz- 1. In combination in a thermostatically controlled valve for radiators, a'valve body, a valve therein, asteni adjustable within'the valve body in the direction ofthe axis of the valve'for altering the position of the valve", a

thermostat comprising a casing,coniining an e'xpansible fluid, a member therein to be.

atl'ected by the "expansion of said fluid, a continuc'us rod between said member and the valve to transmit he'at to said member, said rod extending through the said ad ustable v stem with an air gap between said rodfand StQHlflCIOSS which heatis radiatedto saidrod, I

substantially as, described;

- 2. Apparatus according to 'claim 1, in which the adjustable stem serves as a guide means for the rod adjacent the valve, said rod having contact at one end with said guide for a limited distance'only an d being connected with the'thermostatic member at its other end, substantiallyas described.-

- 3. In combination a valve casing,jaqvalve therein, a sleeve screw threaded into the valve casing "for altering the position of the valve, a thermostat connected with said sleeve, a contmuous rod extending through the sleeve, said rod. bearing on the valve at 5- one end and connected with the thermostat at its other end, to transmit heat to the latter,

said sleeve being spaced apart from said rod to transmit heat thereto byradiation across the intervening air gap.

.4. In combination a valve casing, a valve therein, a thermostatic unit supported from shield the thermostatic unit from heat radithe valve casing, a heat insulating disc 'forin- 'ing part of said support, said disc acting to ,7

ated from said casing, a rod extending continuously between the thermostatic unit and said valve for heat transierence, and means for regulating the temperature of the thermostatic unit, sul stantially as described.

- 5. In combination a valve casing, a valve therein, a thermostatic member, a heat insulating member between the thermostatic therein, thermostatic means carried by the casing for controllingsaid valve, an operating connection between the said means and said valve and adjustable means independent of said connection in heat conductive connection with a part of said thermostatic means, said adjustable means receiving heat. from said casing in differentdegrees according to its adjustment and conducting said received heat to the thermostatic means, substantially as described.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in' which the adjustable means receives heat from said casing by radiation across an air gap, substantially as described;

8. In combination a valve casing, a valve therein, thermostatic means carried by said casing and controlling the valve,said thermostatic means includinga shell, a heat insulating discbetween the valve casing and the thermostaticmeans and spaced apart from the'latter to leave on air gap and heat insulating means for exposing more or less of the said shell at said air gap to the room temperature, substantially as described.

9. In combination, a valvecasing, a valve therein, thermostatic means carried by the valve casing and controlling the valve, said thermostatic means being separated from the casing by an air gap, and-means for regulating the size of said air gap, substantially as described.

10. in combination in direct controlvalve ent of said operating connection adjustably mounted on said heat insulating'disc and receiving heat by radiation from the valve casing, said adjustable member being heat conductively connected with the casing of the thermostatic means, substantially as described. w c

11. In combination in a; direct control valve mechanism for'radiators, a casing, a valve therein, thermostatic means for controlling said valve, arranged coaxiallytherewith and spaced apart from the casing, a heat insulating shield between the thermostatic means and'the casing of the valve, and spaced apart from the thermostatic means to leave an air gap between the shield and. said thermostatic means, a ring shaped member eX- tending over said air gap with means for ad- ,justably holding said ring shaped member whereby the air gap may be increased or diminished, substantially as described.

.12. In combination in apparatus of the class described, a valve casing, a'valve therein, a. thermostatic means arranged coaXially with the valve and supported from the valve casing, a heat insulating disc between the valve casing and the thermostatic means, a

member adjustably mounted on theheat insulating disc and arranged to receive heat from the valve casing, saidmember being heat conductively connected with the shell of the thermostat across an airgap between the said disc and said shell, 'anda heat insulating ring adjustable in relation to said air gap and adapted to shield more or less of the shell of the thermostat, substantially as described.

13. In combination inadirect controlvalve mechanism for radiators, a valvecasing, a valve therein, thermostatic means for-coin trolling the said valve, including a shell, an insulating disc'between the casing of the valve and the thermostatic'shell, said shell having spaced apart feet secured to said insulating disc whereby said thermostatic means is supported in. space relation to saiddisc, means for connecting'the said disc with the valve casing, and a ring for enclosing more or less of the air gap between the disc and the shell of the thermostat and for enclosing more or less of the edge portion of said shell, said ring being adjustably mounted, substantially as described.

r '14:. In combination in a direct control valve mechanismforradiators, a valve casing, a valve therein, a thermostat arranged coaxially with the valve'and supported from the casing, a heat insulating disc between the valve casing and thermostat, said thermostat comprising a shell having a cavity adjacent butspaced apart from the heat insulating disc and a bellows within the shell having a cavity 'end facing the same way as the cavity of the shell, said cavities communicating with the air gap between the shell and the insulating disc,

aconnection between the valve and the bellows, extending into said cavities, and means for regulating the passage of air through the air gap substantially as described.

15. Apparatus according to the preceding claim in whichthe regulating means varies the size of the said air gap between the insulating disc and shell, substantially as described.

16. In combination in a directcontrolvalve mechanism for radiators, a thermostat suplating the passage of air through said air gap and into contact with said connections, substantially. as described.

17. In combination in a direct controlvalve V mechanism for radiators,-a steam inlet valve or valve casing, a thermostatic cell for controlling said valve, a heat insulator between, V the thermostatic cell and the valve: casing spaced apart from both the cell and said cas-' ing, and means for conducting heat from the Y valve to the interior of the thermostatic cell to raise the temperature thereof to the desired degree above room temperature, said means comprising a rod extending contmuously from the valve to the cell through the heat insulator, the said cellbeing exposedto the room temperature for the dissipation of its heat, substantially as described. 7

18. In a direct control valve mechanism for radiators according to claim 17, means for regulating the dissipation of heat from said cell, substantially as described.

19. In combination a valve body, a" valve therein, a thermostat supported from v the valve body, a rod extending continuously from the valve to the thermometer, said valve 'body having a sleeve therein closely conforming'to said rod but with a small air gap surrounding the rod for the major portion of its length, acrosswhich jair gap the said... rod receives heat by radiatlon from said.

sleeve, a heat insulator between the valve body andthe thermostat and from which the thermostat is supported with an air gap between said insulation" and the thermostat,

and across which air gap the said rod extends, and means for controlling'the passage of air through said air gap substantially as described.

20. In combination a valve casing, a valve therein, thermostatic; means carried by the casing for controlling tl1e valve, and adjustable means in heat conducting connection with a part of the said thermostatic means,

i said adjustable -means being'adjustable towards and from an adjacent heated part of ,the apparatusyto rece ve more or less heat thcrefromaccording to: itsv adjustment for transfer to the thermostatic means.

21. a direct control valve mechaniem for radiators, the combinationuof a valve body, a valve therein, a thermostat supported by the valve body, a rod extending continuouslyfromthe valvetosaid cell to conduct heat tosaidce'll, said valve-bodyhavinga wall portion surrounding the. said rod with a restricted air space betwcenitland the rod extending the major portion of the -rods length so that the rod w ll recelve a substantially-jdefin te amount of heat by radiatlon from said wall portion substantially as described. w a

22. Apparatus according to clai1n:;21 in which the said 're'strictedair space has comat the point where the rod emerges from the valve body. a

23. Apparatus according to claim' 21 in whichineans are associated with the cell to regulate the rate of heat dissipation from said A cell. I

24. Apparatus--according"tosclaim 21 in between the valve body and the cell and through which the said rod extends, and means for regulating the rate of heat dissipation from said cell.

25. In combination, a valve casing and valve therein, athermostat supported from .munication with the room atmosphere only WlllCll. a heat msulatmg IHGIIlbGIlS arranged the valve casing, a heat shield between the casing and the thermostat and providing an air gap between the casing and shield, and

an air gap ,betweenthe shield and the ther- .mostat, heat conducting means connected to the thermostat and bridging'said last-named gap and extending past said shield and into heat receiving relation to the first-na'medair gap to receive heat from the casing, whereby heat received from said first-named air gap" is transmitted. through said means to said thermostat, and valve actuating means opconnecting said valve to the ther; 0

eratively mostat.

' 26, Astructure according to claim 25, in

which s aid heat conducting means is regulatable as to the extent toiwhich it may extend into said first-namedair gap to thereby said means'to the thermostat.

27. A structure according to claim 25,'in

, lid i regulate the degree of heat'trans'm tted by .which'mcans is provided to regulate thearea of the air gap between" the'shield and the thermostat.

28. 'Astructure accordingto claim 25, in"

which a vane member adjustablyf mounted in said first-named 'airrgap conducts heat to y c a 12o .29. In COIIllOlIlfi-tlOIl, a valve casing and valvethere n, a supporting member receiving said heat conducting means.

heat by conduction from said casing, a heat shieldmounted on said member and spaced therefrom to form anair gap between-said member andshield on theside toward the f casing, a thermostat supported on the oppo-' site side of said shield and spaced therefrom to form an air gap between the shieldand thermostat, a heat conducting valve actuatmeans bpfat-ively conne'ting the valve to the the'n'nost 'aii said means extending thio'ligh said shield and brid ing said air gaps, heat c'ondu'cting means extending from "the ther'mbstat past 'saidshielcl and i'iltoth'e aii' gap between the shield and said supportingmember, means for regulating the amount of heat transmitted by said heat conducting means, and means for regulatingthe airflow through the air gap between the shield-and the thermostat.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature. EDWARDS. HALSEY. 

